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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-42464

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality in England from April 2026, what steps it is taking to ensure that the New Deal for Business Group Implementation Plan recommendation to maintain the "most competitive environment to do business" on business rates is delivered in respect of these two industry sectors.

Question reference: S6W-42466

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality in England from April 2026, what discussions it has had with its Retail Industry Leadership Group regarding the possible implications of this for retail investment in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-42468

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality in England from April 2026, what discussions it has had with its Non-Domestic Rates consultative subgroup regarding the possible implications of this for retail investment in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-42465

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the decision taken in the UK Budget to provide a permanent business rate discount for retail and hospitality in England from April 2026, what analysis or assessment it has undertaken of the potential risk to commercial investment in retail and hospitality moving to England, in the event that Scotland does not introduce a commensurate reduction in the business rate.

Question reference: S6W-42266

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 9 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41921 by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding whether the pilot gull management for the city of Inverness has now been finalised, including whether it will be in place and ready to be implemented prior to the commencement of seagull breeding season in 2026, and for what reason it did not provide this detail in its response.

The Inverness Gull Management Plan Pilot is currently being developed by NatureScot in partnership with Highland Council. The first version of the plan is expected to be in place ahead of the 2026 breeding season. It is being designed as an adaptive framework—flexible, evidence-based, and subject to ongoing refinement through regular review.

The Scottish Government was unable to provide a definitive response to question S6W-41921, as the pilot plan will require continuous updates and adjustments. Consequently, it is not possible to confirm a date for when the plan will be fully finalised.

Question reference: S6W-42446

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Monday, 08 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the current level of uptake of the winter influenza vaccine is in each NHS board area, and how this year compares with the same period in 2024.

Question reference: S6W-42159

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Good Food Nation key groups, what contact each group will have with industry producers.

Question reference: S6W-42158

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Good Food Nation key groups, what the remit is of each group, and how often each shall meet.

Question reference: S6W-42160

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Good Food Nation key groups, which sectors each group will take evidence from, including whether they will hear from the (a) beef, (b) arable dairy and (c) aquaculture sector.

Question reference: S6W-42161

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Good Food Nation key groups, how each group will seek to advance the interests of food producers.